Nigeria Losing N17.9 Trillion Yearly to Hepatitis

…FG Launches Project 365 to End Scourge

By Peter Salami
The Federal Government has launched “Project 365,” a nationwide campaign aimed at eliminating hepatitis by 2030, citing staggering annual economic losses ranging between N10.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion caused by the disease. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced the initiative in Abuja during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2025, themed “Hepatitis Can’t Wait—Test. Treat. Eliminate.”

Represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health, Pate said the government would embark on mass screening, treatment, and vaccination campaigns across all communities to combat the disease, which silently affects millions of Nigerians. He disclosed that 18.2 million Nigerians are living with hepatitis B, while 2.5 million are infected with hepatitis C. The minister lamented that the disease, often mistaken for malaria, contributes to delayed diagnosis and high mortality rates.

Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, is commonly caused by viral infections—types A, B, C, D, and E—but can also result from alcohol abuse, toxins, medications, or autoimmune disorders. Viral hepatitis, particularly types B and C, can lead to severe complications like liver cirrhosis, failure, or cancer if left untreated. Pate revealed that the government had established the Viral Elimination Fund (VEL) to support widespread testing and treatment, ensure affordable care, and curb transmission.

He noted that pilot interventions had commenced in three correctional centres in Gombe State, supported by Abbott and other partners, to reach underserved populations. Additionally, free hepatitis testing was launched at the National Assembly to encourage lawmakers and staff to get screened and back legislative funding for hepatitis elimination efforts. Pate said Project 365 would offer tax incentives and regulatory support to local pharmaceutical firms producing hepatitis diagnostics and medicines, thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

He emphasised that the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the World Health Organisation’s Global Health Sector Strategy, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to global health targets. Former Head of State and Nigeria’s Presidential Ambassador for Viral Hepatitis, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, through a goodwill message delivered by Mr. Adeyeye Ajayi, Country Representative of the Gowon Foundation, urged Nigerians to unite in the fight against the disease. Gowon praised the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders, calling for intensified public education to tackle stigma and misinformation.

National Coordinator of the African Centre for Disease Control (AfricaCDC), Dr. Titilola Munkail, represented by Dr. Oluyinka Olayemi, Technical Officer for Country Programmes, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s leadership in eradicating hepatitis. She reaffirmed AfricaCDC’s support, stating that Nigeria is setting the pace for the continent in addressing viral hepatitis and other public health challenges.

In Kano, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, disclosed that an estimated 1.2 million residents are living with hepatitis B. Speaking at a news conference to mark World Hepatitis Day, Labaran said the state’s hepatitis B prevalence rate stands at over six per cent, mirroring national figures. He lamented that the virus, despite being preventable and treatable, often goes undetected, leading to severe complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Labaran explained that the Kano State Government is intensifying efforts to reduce the disease burden through early diagnosis, expanded access to treatment, and the integration of hepatitis services into routine healthcare. He highlighted the state’s “HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies (HepFree Uwadajariri)” programme, launched in February, which targets the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B through early screening and treatment of pregnant women.

He said the programme aligns with the Triple Elimination Effort (TEE), which simultaneously targets HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis among pregnant women during antenatal care. Kano, he noted, is the first state in Nigeria to fully operationalise the Triple Elimination process. The commissioner announced that the state government had already released N95 million for the procurement of test kits and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF), a drug provided free of charge to pregnant women testing positive for hepatitis B from 32 weeks of gestation until delivery.

Labaran further disclosed that immunisation officers have been deployed to labour wards across Kano to administer the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, also provided free, immediately after birth. He added that a request for an additional N135 million is awaiting approval to procure more materials needed to sustain the fight against MTCT of hepatitis B. Labaran noted that mother-to-child transmission accounts for up to 70 to 80 per cent of all hepatitis B infections, making prevention a critical pillar of the state’s strategy.

He called on development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to support the state’s efforts through funding, awareness campaigns, and strategic collaborations. Labaran reaffirmed the government’s determination to achieve the global target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, stressing that victory against the disease requires collective national resolve.